The impact of HIV on women living with HIV and their families in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Abstract

AbstractHIV infection adds a significant burden to women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), often leading to severe detrimental impact, not only on themselves, but also on their families and communities. Given that more than half of all people living with HIV globally are females (53%), this review seeks to understand the impact of HIV infection on women living with HIV (WLHIV) and their families in LMICs, and the interrelationships between one impact and another. A systematic review was conducted to find literature using the following databases: Medline, PsycINFO, CINAL, Emcare, Scopus and ProQuest. Research articles were included if they met the following inclusion criteria: conducted in LMICs, published in English language between January 1st 1990 and October 31st 2021, had full text available, involved WLHIV (married and unmarried), and focused on the impact of HIV on these women and their families. Critical appraisal tools developed by Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) were used to assess the methodological quality of the studies and thematic narrative synthesis was used to analyse the findings. A total of 22 articles met the inclusion criteria. The review showed that HIV has a range of negative consequences on WLHIV and their families including: (i) psychological impact, (ii) poor physical health and intimate partner violence, (iii) social impact, and (iv) economic impact. The findings indicate the need for targeted interventions, specific to WLHIV, that address the inequity and discrimination they face. These interventions should also incorporate education and sustainable support structures for WLHIV and their families.